WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - October 17th, 2025

[Kemo]

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to kick off SmackDown

After World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defeated Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and won the WWE Crown Jewel Title in controversial fashion, Rhodes returns to SmackDown to kick off the show.

— We see highlights of what's been going on with Seth Rollins and The Vision.

— SmackDown opens with Nick Aldis in the ring. Aldis talks about the No. 1 Contender's Match tonight with Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, where the winner will face this man... and Cody Rhodes comes out to the ring. Rhodes stands in the ring for a moment and looks around and waves his title around. Rhodes talks about losing to Seth Rollins at Crown Jewel. Rhodes says he feels he and Rollins don't need to be in the ring with each other again but that's not how things work in the WWE. He talks about Rollins and all the drama that's happening in his life with The Vision and says Rollins needs to handle his business while Rhodes handles SmackDown business. He then talks about the match between McIntyre and Fatu and wonders who he will be facing. Rhodes says regardless of who it will be he's ready for either one.

— Solo Sikoa walks backstage with The MFTs. They come by Rey Fenix doing a photoshoot and Sikoa says he's ready for his close up. Fenix gets in Sikoa's face and Fenix gets beaten up by Talla Tonga, Tamma Tonga, Tonga Loa, and JC Mateo.

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria

Blake Monroe is seen sitting in the audience before the match starts. Ruca and Flair lock up and Flair gets Ruca in an arm bar. Ruca flips around and reverses the hold and Ruca does the same again and the hold is broken. They lock up again, Flair kicks Zaria and Ruca and then rolls up Ruca and Ruca rolls through and kicks Flair. Flair chops Ruca in the corner and tags in Bliss. Bliss slams down Ruca who tags in Zaria. Zaria goes at Bliss who jumps on Zaria's back. Zaria is kicked down and punched a few times and then taken down by Bliss with a dropkick. Bliss goes for Sister Abigail and Bliss is spinebustered down and we cut a commercial break.

We're back and Bliss mounts Zaria and punches her but Zaria comes at Bliss right after the beat down with a clotheslines. Ruca is tagged in and Bliss is double teamed and Ruca covers Bliss who kicks out at two. Bliss rolls up Ruca and Ruca kicks out at two. Ruca rolls out of the ring because her top gets untied and she gets back in right before Bliss can tag out - Bliss laid in the ring trying to tag out with no opposition but still couldn't. Zaria is tagged in and Bliss is double teamed again and covered for a near fall. Zaria chokes Bliss in the corner and Bliss tries to tag out again but Zaria doesn't let her and tags in Ruca. Bliss gets face planted and the Zaria is tagged back in. Bliss moves out of the way and avoids getting double teamed and then Bliss kicks down Zaria. Ruca is sent out of the ring and Bliss tries to tag but Zaria tries to stop her but she tags out. Flair comes off the ropes and takes out both Zaria and Ruca. Flair chops both Zaria and Ruca and then hits a walkover clothesline on Zaria. Flair kicks Zaria three times and suplexes her to the mat. Flair smacks Zaria into the corner and taunts Ruca with the DX "Suck it" taunt. Zaria tags out to Ruca and Ruca hits a flying clothesline on Flair. Ruca hits a suplex on Flair and goes for a missile dropkick but Flair catches her and puts her in a Boston Crab. Ruca counters and rolls up Flair who kicks out. Ruca hits Sol Snatcher on Flair and covers her and Bliss breaks the pin. Zaria tosses Bliss out of the ring and Zaria goes after her. Bliss goes for a headscissors but Zaria catches her and slams her into the barricades. Flair goes after Zaria and Ruca makes the save. Monroe distracts Ruca and Flair slams her leg into the barricades. Flair tosses Ruca in the ring and goes for the Figure 8. Flair breaks the hold and kicks Ruca and the slaps Ruca in a Figure 8 again and Ruca taps out.

Winners and STILL WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss

— After the match, Bliss & Flair shake Ruca and Zaria's hands and celebrate.

— Cody Rhodes walks backstage and Jacob Fatu approaches him. Fatu says he will dog walk McIntyre and Rhodes will see Fatu is all gas no brakes.

— A video package for Aleister Black plays. He's with Zelina Vega. Black says this was always part of the plan, aligning with his wife. Vega says they're not the infection but rather the mirror that shows it.

— We're taken back to last week where Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura get attacked by the MFTs.

— The Miz talks to Nick Aldis backstage and he says he wants whatever he's planning to be big. The Miz leaves and Sami Zayn comes in and asks why he isn't on the cards for tonight. Aldis says because of how Zayn was attacked last week he kept Zayn off the show. Zayn says he won't hide or be bullied out of being on the show and his US Title means something to him and the fans and it means something to the guys who want to win the title. He says he will go out and defend his belt and The Miz is still there and says he's real good and leaves.

— Sami Zayn comes out for his open challenge. The Miz comes out with a mic before the match and says how much he hates Open Challenges. Carmelo Hayes runs out and starts beating up The Miz and then battle to the back. Zayn waits in the ring for his opponent.

WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Ijla Dragunov

We get the bell, Zayn and Dragunov shake hands and they start punching each other right after shaking hands. Dragunov takes Zayn down and Zayn does the same with a shoulder check. Zayn chops Dragunov and Dragunov counters a suplex and both Zayn and Dragunov exchange waist locks. Zayn punches Dragunov and Dragunov kicks Zayn on the side of the head. Dragunov slams into Zayn in the corner and boots Zayn down and we cut to a commercial break.

Back to SmackDown, Zayn elbows Dragunov and chops him. Dragunov chops back and the two trade chops. Zayn delivers some right hands and drops Dragunov with a clothesline. Dragunov is covered and kicks out at two. Zayn and Dragunov chop and punch each other in the middle of the ring. Dragunov punches Zayn into the corner. Zayn hits a tornado DDT out of the corner. Dragunov kicks Zayn and covers Zayn for a near fall. Dragunov suplexes Zayn twice and Zayn rolls up Dragunov for a near fall. Zayn hits a couple suplexes on Dragunov - they keep doing the same thing to each other. Dragunov punches out Zayn and slams him down. Zayn is covered and kicks out at two. Dragunov comes off the top rope and Zayn moves out of the way. Zayn hits a Michinoku Driver on Dragunov and covers him for a near fall. Dragunov is chopped to the mat and he rolls out to the apron. Zayn comes out on the apron and too and Dragunov gets Zayn on his shoulders. Zayn breaks the move and DDTs Dragunov onto the ropes and we cut to a break.

We're back, Dragunov climbs the ropes and Zayn gets up and meets him at the turnbuckles. Zayn gets punched down and Dragunov hits a Senton and covers Zayn for a near fall. Dragunov gets Zayn on the top rope, Zayn and Dragunov punch and chop each other. Zayn knocks Dragunov off and he gets right back up and climbs up with Zayn and hits a superplex. Dragunov goes to knock out Zayn with The H Bomb but Zayn kicks him and goes fo the Helluva Kick and misses. Dragunov slams down Zayn and covers again for a near fall. Dragunov kicks Zayn down again, and Zayn kicks out of a pinning attempt. Dragunov strikes Zayn and counters a Blue Thunder Bomb and hits The Constantine Special. Dragunov walks into a boot and a Blue Thunder Bomb and Dragunov kicks out at two. Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick - Solo Sikoa comes out to distract Zayn but Zayn catches Dragunov who tries to get the upper hand. Dragunov comes back and Torpedo Moscow and an H-Bomb and gets the win.

Winner and NEW WWE United States Champion: Ijla Dragunov

— After the match, The MFTs attack both Dragunov and Zayn. Talla Tonga, Tamma Tonga, Tonga Loa and JC Mateo go to town as Sikoa tells them what to do. Rey Fenix runs out to help Dragunov and Zayn but gets bashed up too. After the beat down, Sikoa gets on the mic and says The MFT's run SmackDown. The lights go out and Uncle Howdy comes on the screen and says seek and you shall find and asks them if they're ready for what's waiting on the other side. The lights come up and the Wyatt Sicks are standing on the apron. They get in the ring, Sikoa and The MFTs leave the ring.

— Tiffany Stratton is backstage with Cathy Kelley. Kelley asks Stratton how her loss to Stephanie Vaquer has affected her. Stratton says one loss doesn't define her. Kiana James comes by and tells Stratton that she doesn't have what it takes and that's why James represents Giulia and not Stratton. Stratton tells James she doesn't think that's the reason and challenges James to a match next week.

— The Motor City Machine Guns are backstage celebrating their one year in WWE. Los Garza comes up to them and makes fun of them and they wanna settle this in the ring.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza

Angel and Shelley start off. Shelley gets a cheap shot in and Shelley gets beaten down. Sabin tags in and Angel is double teamed. Sabin takes both Angel and Berto out of the ring. Angel attacks Sabin the ring and chops him in the corner. Shelley is tagged in and he chops Angel. Berto is tagged in and Shelley gets double teamed and Angel superkicks Shelley and we cut to a break.

Back to the show, Angel has Shelley in a leg lock and then starts punching Shelley on the back of his neck. Shelley hits a neck breaker on Angel. Berto is tagged in and he stops Shelley from tagging. Shelley kicks Berto off of him and tags in Sabin. Sabin takes out both Berto and Angel and then rolls up Berto for a two count. Sabin goes for another pin and Berto kicks out. Shelley is tagged in and Berto is double teamed, Sabin is tagged back in. Shelley and Sabin take turns kicking Angel and Berto. Berto hits a sitout powerbomb on Sabin and covers him for a two count. Angel is tagged in and he kicks down Sabin. Berto is tagged in and Sabin is double teamed and covered and Shelley breaks the pin. Shelley and Angel battle outside, Sabin kicks Angel and Berto flies over the ropes and takes out Shelley and Sabin. Back in the ring, Angel is tagged in and Sabin and Shelley kick Angel. Shelley is tagged in and they hit Skull and Bones on Angel and get the win.

Winners: Motor City Machine Guns

— Nathan Frazer and Axiom watch the match backstage. Frazer wants to go get stuff for themselves and Axiom says they should wait and see. Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa and Candice LeRae come in and Fraxiom is told they're delusional. Axiom tells them if they have something to say to him to do it in the ring - anytime, any place.

— Before our main event we cut backstage and we see Jacob Fatu laying under some set pieces. He's bleeding from his mouth and it looks as if some of his teeth are on the ground but you can see all his teeth are in his mouth when he turns his head but something internal has spilled out of his mouth due to this attack. Nick Aldis runs in and yells for medical.

— We come back from a commercial break, Nick Aldis talks to Jacob Fatu and asks him if he knows who did this. Drew McIntyre's music hits and he comes out all smiles to the ring. McIntyre asks for a mic as he gets in the ring and addresses San Jose. McIntyre says the ref might as well raise his hand as the new No. 1 Contender. Aldis comes out to stop this nonsense. He says Fatu's injuries are really bad and accuses McIntyre of causing it. McIntyre says he had nothing to do with what happened Fatu and that he should be the No.1 Contender and he wants his match right now. Cody Rhodes comes out and he's pissed. He says the fans wanted a match and now McIntyre has turned this segment to McIntyre just talking. Rhodes says he will give McIntyre his match. McIntyre and Rhodes start fighting and we cut to a commercial break.

— We come back from the break, Rhodes has beaten McIntyre all over the arena and now they fight at ringside. McIntyre slams Rhodes' head into the announce desk and McIntyre is swung into the steel steps. They get to the ring and the match starts.

WWE Undisputed Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre tosses Rhodes across the ring. McIntyre mounts Rhodes and punches him out. Rhodes spears McIntyre and punches him out. McIntyre fights back and tosses Rhodes across the ring. McIntyre takes down Rhdoes and covers him for a two count. Rhodes starts punching McIntyre and McIntyre kicks Rhodes and hits a FutureShock DDT and covers Rhodes for a near fall. McIntyre chops Rhodes several times and then clobbers the back of Rhodes' neck. Rhodes and McIntyre trade chops and punches and Rhodes ends up on the middle ropes. McIntyre gets him on his feet and chops him. Rhodes uppercuts McIntyre and hits a Cody Cutter on McIntyre. McIntyre rolls out of the ring, Rhode goes for a suicide dive but runs into a right hand by McIntyre. Rhodes and McIntyre fight outside the ring and Rhodes nails McIntyre with his Undisputed Title and the bell rings.

Winner by DQ: Drew McIntyre

— After the match, Rhodes clears the announce desk. McIntyre gauges Rhodes' eyes and goes to slam Rhodes through the announce desk. Rhodes breaks free of the hold and gets McIntyre on the announce desk and goes to hit Cross Rhodes on McIntyre through the announce desk. Nick Aldis and WWE officials run out and stop Rhodes from bashing up McIntyre. As McIntyre is being helped back, Rhodes jumps off the top turnbuckle and takes out McIntyre. McIntyre is helped to the back as Rhodes poses in the ring and the end credits roll.

[Kemo]